Dredging apparatus



Oct. 18, 1960 c. w. VARNER 2,956,354

naancmc APPARATUS Filed June 14, 1956 United States Patent- DREDGING APPARATUS \4 Charles w. Varner, 1201 Fairview Drive, Rocldord, 111.

more particularly concerned with the provision of improved, fluid-propelled, rotary jet cutter heads which when mounted on opposite sides of and close to the intake bell on the lower end of a suction pipe are capable of causing the raising and carrying away of large amounts of material such as sand, dirt and the like from river beds, lake and ocean bottoms, or any other place where submerged pumping is to be done by suction.

A salient feature of the cutter heads of my invention is the angularly disposed jets oppositely directed on opposite ends of a cross-head, the angularity and direction of the jets being such that not only is the cross-head revolved by reaction of their discharge on the material but the discharge is spread out so as to sweep a fairly large radius area to loosen considerable material that will be carried 'awayin the up-flow through the suction pipe. Rotatably adjustable damper blades or paddles are mounted on the opposite ends of the cross-heads above the jets and are adaptedv to be set at different angles to regulate the speed of rotation to suit different conditions, some materials being pumped more efliciently at slower speeds than others.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a side view of a dredging apparatus embodying the improvements of my invention, intermediate portions of the length of the pipes shown being broken away to conserve space, and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts in these two views.

Referring to the drawing, the dredge vessel on board which is carried the high pressure pump connected to the flexible discharge hose 3 and another and higher capacity suction pump connected to the flexible suction hose 4 isv not shown but the horizontal line 5 in Fig. 1 may be taken as representing the bottom thereof. A Y-pipe connection 6 is shown extending downwardly from the discharge hose 3 and suspended by means of a yoke 7 and cables 8 from the dredge by means of a derrick or crane capable of moving the suspended apparatus about readily and hoisting or lowering it as the work progresses. The large suction pipe9 extends from the hose 4 and is similarly suspended from the dredge and has an intake bell 10 provided on the lower end thereof. One or more collars 11 are clamped to the suction pipe 9 at predetermined elevations above the intake bell 10 and each has brackets 12 bolted to the opposite sides thereof, as indicated at 13, for support of bearings 14 on their outer ends in which the discharge pipes 15 are rotatably mounted. Each bearing 14 consists of two clamps 16 which grip the pipe 15 firmly to provide abutments for stainless steel washers 17 which engage the outer sides of rubber washers 18 which in turn engage other stainless steel washers 19 disposed on opposite sides of the bracket 12. With this combination, it is a simple matter to these nozzles.

. 2 to adjust either or both of the pipes 15 endwise with respect to brackets 12 in the event they become worn too much at one spot, or the collars 11 with their brackets 12 may be adjusted up or down relative to the pipes 15 to compensate for wear or to reduce vibration in the operation of the apparatus. The upper ends of the pipes 15 have water-tight swivel connections with the Y-fitting 6, as indicated at 20.

Cross-heads 21 provided on the lower ends of the discharge pipes 15 serve as manifolds for delivery of water under pressure to jets 22 that extend at difierent angles and in the same direction downwardly from the opposite ends of the cross-heads, namely, for rearward discharge in relation to the direction of rotation, in order not only to cause clockwise rotation of both of the cutter heads by virtue of the reaction of their discharge on the -material M but the outward angle of the jets causes the discharge of water to be spread out to a radius approximately twice the radial length of the cross-heads 21, accordingly loosening material for removal through suction pipe 9 in a large circular area on both sides of the suction pipe, as indicated by the intersecting dotted circles '23 in Fig. 2. The opposite direction of churning of the water in the area 24 defined in the overlapping area of the two circles 23 is where the motion is neutralized and the loosened material in this area is accordingly substantially motionless and can, therefore, be picked up readily in the up-flow of water through suction bell 10 and pipe 9. As seenin Fig. l, the jets 22 all operate in a plane below the plane of suction bell 10 but as close to it as practicable so that the removal of the material loosened will be as eflicient as possible.

In order to control or regulate the speed of rotation of the cutter head, I provide rotatably adjustable damper blades or paddles 25 on top of the cross-heads 21 arranged to be clamped by means of their vertical supporting shanks 26 by means of plates 27 fastened by means of screws 28 onto the upwardly projecting portions 29 of brackets 30 suitably secured to the top of the manifolds 21 at opposite ends. In this way the speed of rotation of the cutter heads may be reduced or increased by rotary adjustment of the blades 25 into or out of the direction of rotation of the cutter heads, the blades being shown in radial planes afliording maximum resistance to turning of the heads.

. .The operation of the dredging apparatus shown should be clear from the foregoing description. Water under high pressure is delivered through flexible hose 3 and is discharged downwardly through pipes 15, as indicated by arrows A, thereby causing the cross-heads 21 both to turn in a clockwise direction by virtue of the reaction of their discharge on the material M in close proximity The water discharged from the six or more jets 22 on each head 21 onto the material M throughout the large circular areas 23 loosen the material and it is carried away in the up-flow of water through suction bell 10 and pipe 9, as indicated by the arrow B. Loosened material is carried in the swirl of water continuously toward the bell 10, where, as stated before, the opposing currents are neutralized in the area 24 directly below the bell, so that the material can be picked up easily in the up-flow into the bell. This method of operation is therefore most elficient. The material-laden water is either conveyed directly to fillon shore or is discharged onto barges that are towed into place one after another next to the dredge 5 and are hauled away one after another as they are filled. Inasmuch as the water discharged from the jets does the actual cutting, there is a minimum amount of wear incident to the operation of this apparatus as compared with others operating along the lines of cutter heads mechanically digging the material. The damper blades 25 are set differently for difierent kinds of material,

some material, it being found, being dredged more efiiciently with slower rotation of the cutter heads, where- .as others can; be handledjrnore, efliciently. when-.;' tl 1 e;,cut

stood that I do not wish to limit my. inventiqn to such ffluid should be considered asirneaning'j either. Water or air. e

Itis believed the foregoing. description conveys mgood 7 understanding of the objects and advantages iofmytinyention. The appended claims'have been drawn tocover all legitimate modifications and adaptations;

I claim:

1. A dredging apparatus comprising. a substantially vertical suction pipe connected with means. for continuously withdrawing substrata water containing particles of loosened material afid-aplurality of rotary cutter heads disposed alongside of the sucti n pipe. and mounted in equally eircumferentially and radially. spaced relationship thereto, each cutter head having je'ts projecting downwardly therefrom on opposite sides. of the substantially vertical axis of rotation of the head and .inclined from a vertical for rearward discharge in relation to the direction of rotation, whereby to cause rotation of the head in a predetermined direction when fluid under pressure is discharged through said jets. and subject the area to be dredged withinthe range of the jets to substantially uniform dredging actionall over for more efiicient dredging, the jets being also inclined outwardly with respect to the substantially verticalaxis of rotation of each head to sweep with th'e discharge therefrom a circular area that is large in relationto the overall radius of the head, the circles of said areasoverlapping under the inlet end of the suction pipe, the-latter being disposed in a horizontal plane slightly above the horizontal plane of operation of said jets, andnieans for delivering fluid under pressure to said jets through said heads. 7 i V 2. A dredging apparatus as setforth in claim 1, including an intake ball on the lower end oi the suction pipe, the. periphery of whichis in closely spaced relation to the circle of operation of the jets and spaced slightly above the discharge ends of said jets, whereby said suction pipe subteuds a substantially increased por- 'tion of the area operated upon by the jets.

3. A dredging apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the means for delivering fluid under pressure to said jets comprises a substantially vertical fluid discharge pipe, the apparatus including a bracket adjustably secured to the suction pipe -for adjustment up or down thereon'for support of the discharge pipe in fixed relation to the suction pipe, the apparatus including hearing means on the outer end of said bracket adjustably secured to the discharge pipe for adjustment up or down thereon and fixing to the discharge pipe in adjusted position.

4. A dredging apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means for regulating the speed of rotation of :said cutter heads independently of the pressure at which the fluid is delivered to said jets.

SQA dredging apparatus comprising a substantially vertical suction pipe connected with means for continuously withdrawing substrata water containing particles *of loosened material, and a. pair of rotary cutter heads disposed alongside the suction pipe spaced from diametrically opposite sides thereof, each head having jets projecting downwardly therefrom on opposite sides of the substantially vertical axisof rotation of the head and inclined from a. vertical for rearwarddischi fi in relation to the direction of rotation, whereby to cause rotation of the head in a predetermined direction when fluid under pressure is discharged through said jets and subject the areas to be dredged within the range of the jets to substantially uniform dredging action all over for more eflicient dredging, the jets being also inclined outwardly with respect to the. substantially vertical axis of rotation of each head to sweep with the discharge therefrom a circular area that is largerelation to the overall radius of the head the circles of said areas overlapping under the inlet end of the suction pipe, the

latter i s ess a-a; h ri n al-Plane Sl above the horizontal plane of operation ofsai d jets, and means for delivering fluid under pressure-to said jets through said heads.

6. A dredging apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said heads have their jets inclined alike so that the two heads turn in the same direction, wher.eby; the opposing curr nts are. substantially eutr lized n;thi=. i bltended by the projectionof thebor, of; said suction pipe. I

A dredging ppa atus asset e hit laim ti cluding an intake bell on' the' lower end ofthe; suction pipe, the periphery of which is in closely spacedrelation to the circles of operationof thejetsand spaced slightly above the discharge ends of said jets whereby said suction pipe subtendsa substantially increased portion of the area operated upon by the jetsof both heads.

8. A dredging apparatus. as set forth in claim 5, wherein the means for delivering fluid; under pressureto said jets comprises a substantially yertical fluid discharge pipe, the apparatus including a. bracket adjustablyj secured to the suction pipetfor adjustment;up or do wn thereon for support of the. discharge pipes. in fixedrelation to the suction pipe, theapparatus includingbearing means on the outer ends of"saidbracketadjustably secured to the discharge pipes for adjustmentup Qtdown thereon and fixing tothe discharge. pipeslin adjusted position.

9. A dredging apparatus as set forth in claim 5, including means for regulating the speed-of rotation of said cutter heads independently of the pressure at,;which the fluid is delivered to said jets.

10. A dredging apparatus comprising. a. substantially vertical suction pipe connected with meansfor continuously withdrawing substratawater. containingipa ticles of loosened material, and a plurality of rotary. cutter heads disposed alongside of the suctionlpipeand mounted in equally circumferentiall-y and radiallyspaeedrelationship thereto, each cutter-head having jets. projecting downwardly therefrom on oppositesides of the substantially vertical axis of rotation of thehead and inclined from a vertical for rearward discharge in relationto the direction of rotation, whereby to causerotationoftthe heads in a predetermined-direction when fluid under pressure is discharged through said jets, the jets being also inclined outwardly with respectto the substantially vertical axis of rotation of each head to-sweep withthe discharge therefrom a circular area that is large in relation to the overall radius of the head, the circles of said areas overlapping under the inlet endof the s'uction pipe, the latter being disposed in ahoriz'ontal plane slightly above the horizontal plane of operation of s 'aid jets, and means for delivering fluid under pressureto said jets through said heads, said apparatus: including a damper blade adjustably mountedonand projecting upwardly from each head and spaced radially from the substantially vertical axis of rotation thereof to reduce or increase the speed of rotation. of; the head accordingly as the blade. is adjusted more or less toward a'radial position relative to the head. I H V j 1-1. A dredging apparatus comprising a substantially ve tical suction pipe connected with means for continuously withdrawing substrata water containing particles of loosened material, and a pair of rotary cutter heads disposed alongside the suction pipe spaced from diametrically opposite sides thereof, each head having jets projecting downwardly therefrom on opposite sides of the substantially vertical axis of rotation of the head and inclined from a vertical for rearward discharge in lation to the direction of rotztion, whereby to cause rotation of the head in a predetermined direction when fluid under pressure is discharged through said jets, and means for delivering fluid under pressure to said jets through said v ertical axis of rotation thereof to reduce or increase the 15 2,673,203

speed of rotation of the head accordingly as the blade is adjusted more or less toward a radial position relative to the head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 168,278 Newton Sept. 28, 1875 433,279 Fairchild July 29, 1890 471,108 Duryee Mar. 22, 1892 552,285 Gwynne Dec. 31, 1895 967,797 Lovett Aug. 16, 1910 2,599,980 Dunning June 10, 1952 Huff May 11, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 2,956,354 October 18 1960 Charles Wo Varner It is hereby certified that error appears in the above nwmbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 45 for "ball" read bell Signed and sealed this 31st day of July 1962 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID L DD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

